Swingletree.



PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905.

G. A. RAWHOUSER.

SWINGLETREB.

APPLICATION FILED 00112, 1904.

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UNITED sTATns PA'ISENT OFFICE.

SWINGLETREE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application iiled October 12, 1904. Serial No. 228,187.

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE A. RAwHoUsER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Berlin, in the county of Adams and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Swingletrees, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to draft members, and especially to swingletrees, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which will be exceedingly strong and durable and one wherein the bracing member or strut is firmly and securely attached to the body of the draft member.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a swingletree embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation, the section being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the swingletree, preferably composed of wrought-iron and of tubular form, and 2 a brace or strut composed of rod metal and arranged to extend longitudinally of the body 1 at the rear face of the latter. Y

Arranged at the longitudinal center of the body is a bridge member or piece 3, which serves to maintain the strut 2 in spaced relation to the body at the longitudinal center of the parts, this bridge being preferably in the form of a length of strap metal folded. as shown in Fig. 2, to present a primary tubular seat 4, which receives and snugly embraces the body 1, and a secondary tubular seat 5, which likewise receives and tightly embraces the brace-rod 2, these seats being spaced ap'art by a horizontal double-ply web 6, at the center of which the terminals of the blank meet.

Disposed at the longitudinal center of the swingletree is a central attaching member or eye 7, by means of which the device maybe connected with a vehicle or the like, this ring or eye being preferably formed from a length of metal bent into shape and having formed on its terminals and integral therewith fiat extended portions or plates 8, which seat, respectively, upon opposite faces of the web 6 and are secured thereto by fastening devices or rivets 9, entered through the plates and web, and thus serving the twofold function of attaching the member 7 to the swingletree and securing the ends of the blank composing the bridge-piece.

rllhe brace 2 inclines forwardly and inwardly from the bridge-piece toward the body 1 and has its outer terminals attached to the outer terminals of the latter by means of rivet-eyes 10, the shanks 11 of which extend transversely through the body and ends of the brace and are headed, as at 12, upon the outer face of the latter. These rivet-eyes subserve the twofold function of connecting the ends of the brace and body and presenting a means for the attachment of trace hooks or members 13 to the swingletree.

It is to be particularly observed that the body 1 is bent or deflected slightly rearward in continuous lines from the bridge-piece 3 to its ends, while the brace or strut 2 is, as before stated, similarly bent forwardly, whereby in practice the swingletree as a whole will be exceedingly strong and durable and effectually withstand the strains to which it is subjected owing to traction exerted by the draftanimals upon the trace-hooks 13. Further, it may be noted that the strut and body 1 are Vfirmly and securely united at their longitudinal center and ends, thereby measurably increasing the strength and durability of the device as a whole.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple inexpensive device which is admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in View, it being understood that minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, while I have herein shown and described the device as embodied in the form of a swingletree, it will be understood that with slight changes in the matter of form and proportions the same may be readily converted into a doubletree or neckyoke. Furthermore, it is obvious that screwbolts or analogous fastening devices may be substituted for the rivets 9 and screw-eyes for the rivet-eyes 19 and that such changes would not amount to a departure from my invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A device of the class described comprising an elongated body deflected rearwardly from its center toward its ends, a brace extending longitudinally of the body and reversely deflected relative thereto, rivet-eyes securing the ends of the brace to the body and presenting means for the attachment of harness-engaging members to the body, a bridge-piece designed IOO IOS

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for maintaining' the body and brace in spaced Viees entered through the plates for securing' relation at a point between their ends, said the latter to the web and the ends of the blank bridge piece being formed from a single against separation. length of metal folded around the body and In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in 5 brzee and presnting a wh extended betweeln presence of two witnesses.

sai parts, sai blank aving its termina s meeting at the center of the web between the GEORGE A' RAWHOUSER' body and braee,va elevis having its terminals Witnesses: equipped with plates seated respectively upon PAUL M. SPANGLER,

IO opposite sides of the web, and Jfastening de- JOHN JACOBS. 

